Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi (Photo: VNA) Beijing (VNA) – Vietnam’s activities on islandsand rocks under its management in the East Sea are completely normal,Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi told Hong Kong-based PhoenixTelevision.
He made the remark in an interview on January 18in which he was asked about the information that Vietnam is stepping up landreclamation activities on some islands in the East Sea.
He clarified that Vietnam has not increased orreduced activities on its islands, those activities are still the same asbefore.
Some opinions that Vietnam is taking over therole of the Philippines are just personal viewpoints and not in line withVietnam’s stance or the reality, Khoi noted.
There haven’t been any countries voicing concernthat the activities on islands and rocks conducted by Vietnam would cause anyfactors of instability.
Vietnam’s stance regarding the East Sea issue isconsistent, and it does not intend to replace the role of the Philippines inthe East Sea issue, he stressed.
He underlined the talks between Vietnamese PartyGeneral Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Party General Secretary and President ofChina Xi Jinping earlier this month in Beijing. The two leaders discussed theEast Sea issue and reach a common perception.
In the joint communiqué, they said both sidesare well aware of existing disagreements, adding that however, how to controldisagreements and the situation and not to let them affect relations betweenthe two Parties and countries is an important task.
The Ambassador said since 2014, Vietnam andChina have held annual negotiations on the demarcation of the waters off themouth of the Tonkin Gulf, but this problem cannot be solved overnight.
He told Phoenix TV that the two sides need toconduct negotiations with adherence to international law, including the 1982 UNConvention on the Law of the Sea and bilateral and multilateral agreements theyreached to settle the issues.
On the basis of the Declaration on the Conductof Parties in the East Sea (DOC), Vietnam is ready to promote negotiations tofinalise a Code of Conduct in the waters (COC), Khoi added.-VNA
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